2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLA 45 SUV

8.4

Overview

The Mercedes Benz AMG GLA 45 is a classic example of a crossover but it isn’t just a crossover. What do you call an offspring of a hot hatch and an SUV? A hot crossover? And with the kind of performance that the AMG GLA 45 offers, you can rightfully call it a hot crossover.The Mercedes Benz GLA is born out of the smaller A-Class hatch and the larger GLC Class SUV. The AMG is the performance division of Mercedes Benz. Hence, the AMG variant of the GLA is branded as the AMG GLA 45 and it gets a handcrafted engine from AMG. The engine produces a whopping 375 HP and delivers a 350 lb-ft of torque making the GLA a hot crossover. And at $50,600, this crossover is the most affordable car amongst its arch rivals.The AMG GLA 45 is Mercedes Benz’s attempt to diversify its AMG line-up. With the GLA 45, the AMG badge remains no longer restricted just to some ultra-expensive sports and luxury cars. The AMG GLA 45 offers the practicality of a hatchback and the go-anywhere nature of an SUV and at the same time with that AMG logo, you get some mad power and superb driving experience. All in all, the Mercedes Benz AMG GLA 45 is a mouth-watering proposition.

Variant Name

MSRP

AMG GLA 45

AMG GLA 45 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)

Expert Review

carhp editorOctober 25, 2018

8.4

Overall Rating

8.3/10Engine

8.5/10Interior

8.5/10Exterior

The Mercedes Benz GLA is born out of the smaller A-Class hatch and the larger GLC Class SUV. The AMG variant of the GLA is branded as the gets a handcrafted engine from the super hot rodding division. The specially crafted engine produces a whopping 375 HP and delivers a 350 lb-ft of torque making the GLA a hot crossover. And at $50,600, this crossover is the most affordable car amongst its arch rivals.

Features

The AMG GLA 45 is offered in only one trim level and you don't get any optional trim levels. You get 19-inch alloy wheels, a powered liftgate, three performance driving modes, leather upholstery and a list of features all as standard.

Trims

AMG GLA 45

MSRP

$50,600

Features

19-inch alloy wheels

Power liftgate

Power-adjustable driver seat

Three performance driving modes

Imitation leather upholstery

60/40-split folding rear seatback with a center pass-through

8-inch central display with a dial-and-button control array

Mercedes's Mbrace telematics system (including a Wi-Fi hotspot and concierge services) are available on a subscription basis.

Engine

8.3/10

"The GLA doesn't handle like an SUV. It feels more like a nimble hatchback. There's less tugging on the steering wheel in the all-wheel-drive GLA 45. Well-managed body lean, plenty of tire grip and a well-tuned stability control system"- Edmunds

Engine and Transmission

The Mercedes Benz AMG GLA 45 gets a handcrafted AMG embossed engine. This specially crafted engine churns out a massive 375 HP and delivers 350 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged, 2 liters Inline 4 cylinder engine is mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission. The power from the AMG powerplant is sent to 4 wheels and the power distribution is smartly managed by the Mercedes 4MATIC all-wheel drive system.

Models

Mercedes-Benz AMG GLA 45

Porsche Macan Turbo

Audi SQ5 Premium Plus

BMW X4 M40i

MSRP

$50,600

$77,200

$54,300

$60,450

Engine

2.0L I-4 Turbo w/Direct Injection

3.6L Twin Turbo V6

3.0L TFSI Twin-Scroll DOHC V6

3.0L M Perf TwinPower Turbo 6-Cylinder

Transmission

7-Speed Automatic

7-Speed Automatic

8-Speed Automatic

8-Speed Automatic

Power

375 hp

400 hp

354 hp

355 hp

Torque

350 lb-ft

406 lb-ft

369 lb-ft

343 lb-ft

The only car that makes power than the AMG GLA 45 in this segment is the Porsche Macan Turbo at 400 HP but it costs a $17000 more than the Mercedes. Both the Audi SQ5 and the BMW cost more and make less power than the Mercedes.

Acceleration

When your car has that AMG badge, you know your car is one of the best performers out there. Floor the AMG GLA 45 and it goes from a standstill to 60MPH in just 4.3 secs. This crossover covers the quarter-mile distance in just 12.7 secs. The smooth shifting gears make achieving these figures a cakewalk.

Models

Mercedes-Benz AMG GLA 45

Porsche Macan Turbo

Audi SQ5 Premium Plus

BMW X4 M40i

0-60 MPH

4.3 sec

4.6 sec

5.1 sec

4.6 sec

Quarter mile

12.7 sec

12.9 sec

13.1 sec

13.5 sec

Engine

2.0L

3.6L

3.0L

3.0L

Emission

(Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)

7.1

9.3

8.4

8.4

The Mercedes has the smallest engine of the lot and yet it delivers the best acceleration numbers, credit to the low curb weight. The low curb weight also makes the AMG GLA 45 very efficient and thus it has the lowest CO2 emissions in the segment. The Porsche is the only car that hits the quarter mile mark under 13 secs while the Audi and the BMW both cross the 13 secs mark.

Ride and Handling

The Mercedes Benz AMG GLA 45 is a race spec car. The suspensions are on the firmer side and are tuned for the race track. As a result, this car gives you the confidence of throwing it into the corners like no other car of this size does. The steering is very responsive and you really feel connected to the car. In spite of being an SUV derivative, the AMG GLA 45 doesn't display the amount of body roll you would expect it to have.

Although the suspension settings make this car a great handler, it sacrifices the comfort levels. The ride quality is not something that you would associate with a Mercedes Benz. On bad roads, you are guaranteed to feel every bump and pothole you hit even in the comfort mode. The AMG GLA 45 is not a great SUV but with the kind of power and handling that it has on offer, it is has got the dominant hot hatch genes ultimately making it a hot crossover.

Braking

The AMG GLA 45 gets 13.8 inches diameter discs up front and 13.0 inches diameter discs at the rear. The brake calipers are painted in red and have an AMG logo on it just to remind you its an ordinary crossover but at a 375 HP crossover. Slam on the brakes and the AMG GLA 45 will come to a complete halt from 60 MPH at a distance of just 110 feet. The credit of this braking performance partly goes to the superior brakes and partly to the low curb weight of the car.

Model

Mercedes-Benz AMG GLA 45

Porsche Macan Turbo

Audi SQ5 Premium Plus

BMW X4 M40i

Brake(in)

13.8

14.2

13.8

12.9

Brake (in)

13.0

14.0

13.0

13.0

Curb weight(lbs)

3457

4244

4398

4323

60-0 MPH (ft.)

110

127

123

123

In spite of getting the better brakes, the Porsche Macan fails to beat the Mercedes in terms of braking performance. The Audi and the BMW too, fail to make a mark. The high curb weight of these cars is what contributes to the poor braking performances.

Fuel Economy

By no means, the AMG GLA 45 is a gas guzzler. Given the fact that this is a 375 HP crossover, it delivers some impressive fuel economy numbers. In the city, this hot crossover gets a fuel economy rating of 22 MPG and on the highway, it gets a rating of 28 MPG. The AMG GLA 45 ends up getting an excellent combined fuel efficiency rating of 25 MPG.

Model

Mercedes-Benz AMG GLA 45

Porsche Macan Turbo

Audi SQ5 Premium Plus

BMW X4 M40i

MPG (city)

22

17

19

18

MPG (highway)

28

23

24

25

MPG (combined)

25

20

21

21

The Audi SQ5 and the BMW X4 both are underpowered than the AMG GLA 45 and yet they fail to match the economy figures and only get combined efficiency rating of 21 MPG. The Porsche on the other hand, being the more powerful and heavier car delivers a combined rating of 20 MPG.

On the inside, the cabin is trademark Mercedes Benz. The cabin is upmarket and the material quality and the fit and finish are really great. You get the dashboard wrapped in black leather with red stitching with some race spec graphics giving the cabin a sporty feel.

There are traces of chrome on the air con vent and additionally, they get a sporty red color insert. The buttons and the switches are all smartly placed giving the dashboard an uncluttered look. The AMG GLA 45 gets interior ambient mood lighting too.

Seating and Comfort.

The AMG GLA 45 can accommodate 5 people. This is a driver's car and most of its owners will skip critiquing to get behind the wheel and go on with the driving. The AMG GLA 45 comes with sporty bucket seats at the front and a regular bench at the rear. The Mercedes Benz has managed the space on the inside well in spite of being a small car and there ample amount of leg, head and shoulder room on offer. As a result, the boot space is sacrificed.

Model

Mercedes-Benz AMG GLA 45

Porsche Macan Turbo

Audi SQ5 Premium Plus

BMW X4 M40i

Passenger capacity

5

5

5

5

Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg)

(In.)

40.0/54.8/41.9

39.4/-/33.1

40.2/57.7/41.0

40.0/57.2/40.4

Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg)

(In.)

38.2/53.1/27.3

36.3/-/32.3

37.7/56.5/37.8

37.4/56.0/34.8

Infotainment System

The Mercedes Benz calls its infotainment system as the COMAND infotainment system. The system includes an 8-inch touchscreen interface with premium Harman/Kardon audio system that delivers some great sound quality. Along with touch, the screen can also be controlled with a rotary knob provided in the center console.

The AMG GLA 45 also gets Android Auto, Apple Carplay and Bluetooth streaming. The system is very intuitive and is pretty simple to use. Only the touchscreen quality lets you down. It is not very responsive, the display is pixelated and the graphics also lag a bit.

Interior Features

Leather upholstery

CD player and HD radio

SD card reader and USB ports

Heated seats

Power adjustable driver seats

60/40 split folding rear seats

3 performance driving modes

Cargo space

The Mercedes Benz AMG GLA 45 is a rather small car. It offers great space for the passengers on the inside and thus the cargo space has been compromised. Behind the second row, it gets only 17.2 cubic feet of luggage space. Fold down the 2nd row of seats and you open up to 43.6 cubic feet of luggage space.

Model

Mercedes-Benz AMG GLA 45

Porsche Macan Turbo

Audi SQ5 Premium Plus

BMW X4 M40i

Behind 2nd Row(ft.cube)

17.2

17.7

26.8

18.5

With All Seats folded (ft.cube)

43.6

53.0

60.4

50.5

The AMG GLA 45 has the smallest luggage storage space in the segment. At 26.8 cubic feet of storage space, the Audi SQ5 is the leader in the segment followed by the BMW X4 and the Porsche Macan. Low cargo space is probably the only area where the AMG GLA 45 fails to impress the buyer

The AMG GLA 45 is not the biggest car in the segment. It is 175.4 inches long, 71 inches wide and 58 inches tall. It is the lightest car in the competition and only weighs 3457 lbs. The AMG GLA 45 also gets a modest ground clearance of 7.2 inches.

Model

Mercedes-Benz AMG GLA 45

Porsche Macan Turbo

Audi SQ5 Premium Plus

BMW X4 M40i

curb weight(lbs)

3457

4244

4398

4323

Length(in)

175.4

185.0

183.9

184.3

Width(in)

71.0

76.1

74.5

74.1

Height(in)

58.0

63.4

65.3

63.9

Ground clearance(in)

7.2

7.8

8.2

8.0

Wheelbase(in)

106.3

110.5

111.2

110.6

Track width(in) F/R

61.7/61.8

65.2/65.0

63.9/63.6

62.8/63.4

The AMG GLA 45, in fact, is the smallest car amongst its rivals. The Porsche Macan is the largest car in the segment followed by the Audi SQ5 and the BMW X4 M40i. The Audi happens to be the heaviest car in this four-way.

Exterior Features

19-inch alloy wheels

Powered liftgate

Backup camera

Safety

Mercedes has shown zero tolerance when it comes to safety and there is no compromise on this front. The AMG GLA 45 comes with some advanced safety tech and gizmos just to ensure that you remain safe and protected.

Competition

The Porsche Macan uses a bigger engine and makes more power than the Mercedes. It also offers some extra passenger room and cargo volume, while with the Porsche, you also get more ground clearance.

But the Porsche is a gas guzzler and has poor fuel economy ratings. Although it makes more power, the Porsche's acceleration timing is no threat to the Mercedes. On the braking front too, the Mercedes performs better. Plus the Porsche is a $17,000 premium over the Mercedes. All these factors make the AMG GLA 45 a clear winner and a more sensible buy.

Audi SQ5 Premium Plus vs Mercedes Benz AMG GLA 45

The Audi SQ5 uses a larger engine than the Mercedes yet it makes less power. The SQ5 also deliver low fuel economy numbers. It also has the lower acceleration timings and performs poorly in the braking tests. The Audi also costs almost $4,000 more than the Mercedes Benz. The Audi only beats the Mercedes when it comes to cargo storage. As compared to the Audi, the Mercedes Benz AMG GLA 45 is clearly the better car and it is the one that you should go for.

BMW X4 M40i vs Mercedes Benz AMG GLA 45

The X4 is another SUV from BMW and its no match to the AMG GLA 45. The X4 is 20 horses deficient to the Mercedes, it has poor acceleration timings and also fares poorly in the braking game. The BMW also a disappointing fuel economy ratings when compared to the Mercedes. The BMW only has better ground clearance and gets a larger boot. Also, it costs $10000 more than the AMG GLA 45.

The only reason you should be buying the BMW is that it has the bigger luggage storage space. Otherwise, the Mercedes Benz AMG GLA 45 is the better buy.

Final Verdict

The German engineers have done all the things right while crafting this hot crossover. The AMG GLA 45 is powerful, fast and is a fun to drive car. Step on the gas and you are launched like a rocket. This is a very agile car and sticks to the road firmly. It readily dives into corners and handles really well. The car always wants you to push it harder and exploit its abilities to the fullest.

The AMG GLA 45 is a good looking beast. Put it into the sport mode and floor the accelerator and the engine roars and the car launches itself like a rocket. It is one of the most fun to drive cars available in the market. As said earlier, this car offers the practicality of a hatch, capabilities of an SUV and an engine of a sports car. This car is the jack of all trades and is the master when it comes to crossovers. At fifty grand, the Mercedes Benz AMG GLA 45 is the best car you can certainly buy.